Bosnia and Egypt strengthen defence cooperation and military industry ties

This multi-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina follows Minister Helez’s successful visit last month to Egypt’s Ministry of Defence, marking the first official meeting between the defence ministers of BiH and Egypt since Bosnia gained independence.

The Egyptian delegation in Sarajevo was led by Major General Mostafa Elqusney, Head of the Armament and Ammunition Department at Egypt’s Ministry of Defence, accompanied by Major General Salah Soliman Junblat, Deputy Minister of Military Production, and Walid Ahmed Abdelfattah Hagagg, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During the meeting, the parties discussed key steps toward establishing future bilateral cooperation between the Bosnian and Egyptian defence ministries, as well as exploring opportunities for collaboration between their defence industries.

Minister Helez informed the delegation that the draft agreement for future cooperation between the two defence ministries has already been reviewed by the Council of Ministers of BiH and is now awaiting approval by the Presidency of BiH.

“Following our recent visit to Egypt, I am confident that this meeting represents another important step toward deepening our defence cooperation. We place particular emphasis on opportunities in the defence industry, which is of strategic importance for Bosnia and Herzegovina. While the Ministry of Defence does not have direct authority over this sector, only an indirect role through the approval of imports and exports of products, components, and raw materials, we remain committed to strengthening all forms of cooperation that contribute to our shared development and security,” Minister Helez said.

Helez also highlighted that the defence industries of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Egypt have a history of cooperation dating back to the time of the former Yugoslavia, and stressed that this foundation provides strong potential for further collaboration.

Major General Elqusney emphasised that the Egyptian Armed Forces already use ammunition produced in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is highly regarded in Egypt for its reliability and quality.

He expressed satisfaction that the delegation’s visit to BiH would include direct meetings with several companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s defence industry, opening further avenues for partnership.